Ari Atoll
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Why dive in Ari Atoll?
BEST SEASON
Featured Animals 11
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Variable Frequent sightingsBlacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
A small, agile requiem shark recognized by the distinctive black tips on its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. Commonly found patrolling shallow coral reefs and lagoons, it is one of the most frequently encountered reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreat Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
The Great Barracuda is a large predatory fish known for its fearsome appearance and speed. It has an elongated body, pointed head, and large teeth, making it a proficient hunter in coastal and open waters.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Cathemeral Frequent sightingsScalloped Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna lewini
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is a large, migratory shark easily recognized by the central indentation on its hammer-shaped head. These sharks are found globally in warm temperate and tropical coastal and oceanic waters, often forming large schools around seamounts and islands. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, feeding on a diverse diet of bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and smaller sharks and rays.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 54
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus
Cowtail StingrayPastinachus sephen
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolor
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant Oceanic Manta RayMobula birostris
Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Glider FlyingfishCheilopogon atrisignis
Great Hammerhead SharkSphyrna mokarran
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
LionfishPterois spp.
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanus
Ocellaris ClownfishAmphiprion ocellaris
Olive Ridley Sea TurtleLepidochelys olivacea
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Rainbow RunnerElagatis bipinnulata
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Shortfin Devil RayMobula kuhlii
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Silvertip SharkCarcharhinus albimarginatus
Spinetail Devil RayMobula mobular
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Spotted SeahorseHippocampus kuda
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvier
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Yellowmargin TriggerfishPseudobalistes flavimarginatus
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Where is Ari Atoll
Indian Ocean · Maldives
Frequently asked questions about Ari Atoll
When is the best time to dive in Ari Atoll?
The best time to dive in Ari Atoll is from December to April. In those months the water is between 28°C and 30°C.
What marine life can you see diving in Ari Atoll?
Divers can encounter 65 species in Ari Atoll. Highlights include Blacktip Reef Shark, Great Barracuda, Green Sea Turtle, Grey Reef Shark, Hawksbill Sea Turtle, and Humphead Wrasse.
When can you see the Ocellated Eagle Ray in Ari Atoll?
The Ocellated Eagle Ray is most often seen in Ari Atoll from March to November.
When can you see the Reef Manta Ray in Ari Atoll?
The Reef Manta Ray is most often seen in Ari Atoll from May to November.
When can you see the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark in Ari Atoll?
The Scalloped Hammerhead Shark is most often seen in Ari Atoll from March to May.
What is the water temperature in Ari Atoll?
Water temperature in Ari Atoll ranges from 28°C in January to 30°C in April.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Ari Atoll?
With the water between 28°C and 30°C, a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty is usually enough all year round.
What is the visibility like when diving in Ari Atoll?
Visibility in Ari Atoll ranges from 10 m to 30 m. The water is clearest from December to April.
What are the currents like in Ari Atoll?
Divers in Ari Atoll can expect moderate, strong, or very strong currents, depending on the month and the dive site.
What can you see on a night dive in Ari Atoll?
After dark, Ari Atoll reveals nocturnal species such as Whitetip Reef Shark, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, Lionfish, Oriental Sweetlips, and Painted Spiny Lobster.
Where is Ari Atoll located?
Ari Atoll is a dive destination in Maldives, in the Indian Ocean.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Ari Atoll. Spotted something that looks off?
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